Tips for including a professional photo in your CV

There is some debate over whether you should include a photo in your CV.

At 11, we like it when applicants include a photo of themselves, as it allows us to put a face to a name. It also helps to personalise your application.

If you do decide to include a photo in your CV, Novoresume suggests that you:

  • Wear professional/smart-casual clothes and dress to reflect the company’s culture. 
    For an executive role, wearing a suit in your photo is perfect. For a general business role, business casual is ideal. If the role you are applying for is more specific such as a chef role or a trades role, it may be a good idea to wear the uniform of the profession.
  • Consider hiring a professional photographer.
    Although not necessary, this gives you a variety of high-quality photos to use in various professional settings.
  • Match your CV photo with your LinkedIn profile picture.
    Employers who look you up on LinkedIn will quickly recognise your personal brand.
  • Don’t use a selfie.
    Have someone else take the photo for you or set your phone up on a tripod. The front camera compresses images, so it is best to use the back camera to take photos.
  • Keep yourself and your background neutral.
    Don’t try and make any fashion statements with crazy hair and makeup. Also, make sure the background isn’t distracting. Taking a photo against a plain coloured wall is ideal.
  • Don’t make your photo too big.
    The photo isn’t the star of the CV – you don’t want to distract the reader from skills and experience. A passport-sized image in the top corner is enough.  
Top 7 CV improvements | This is not an appropriate picture

This is not an appropriate picture for a CV. This kind of photo may show your personality but it is not appropriate for a work related image. A cropped group photo is also not appropriate.

Top 7 CV improvements | It is not appropriate for a CV

A selfie with a distracting background might look nice but it is not appropriate for a CV.

Top 7 CV improvements | This is an appropriate photo

This is an appropriate photo. The background is plain and doesn't detract focus from the person's face. The clothes are also business casual and are suitable for a variety of roles.

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